National Republican., 1887-01-21
EDUCATING THE YOUTH.
The Laborers in the Temperance Cause
Favor the Blair Bill.

EhNoF thc DlhiT biils
Tho door bell Of 2l3 East Capitol street was
hardly rung when genteel looking servant
answered II and ushered one of the REPuBLI-
CANS reporter into the handsomely furnished
parlor.
II wish to SEQ Mrs Mary II. Hunt" said the
reporter to lady who entered the parlor as
the visitor took scat.
That is my name, sir" was the pleasant re.
A quick glance at the lady showed her to be
one Of easy manners, and with face indicat-
ing strong Intellectual powers.
~ understand that you are connected with
ne w. Q. I. Y; and very prominent officer Of
that organizationr'
~ am the superintendent Of the educational
department, and found IL necessary 70 come
TO Washington In the interest of educational
matters connected with the association"
You speak Of educational matters by that
Judge that the w. g. I. u. takes wider field
OF work than Its name indicatesp'
4, mat is true. The organization Is alive to
the issues OF the times, aud II says to the world
our OBJECT Is the uplifting Of humanity and
onr nims.and purposes are as broad as the
church. The organization itself is as well
formed as the government. We have our de-
partments, with certain duties assigned them,
and each department is controlled by a lady
whose fitness ispasscd upon with as much care.
iulness as would, say that Of high govern
ment official. In such systematic arrange
ment, therefore, the workings Of the union is
made to be OF some effect.
Your department then causes YOU TO look
after such educational matters as effect the
ut does. ] can illustrate better the duties
OF my department when refer you TO the bill
that passed tho Senate In the first session OF
the forty-ninth Congress-. That bill, you re.
momber, provides federal aid for the public
schools. 1t is measure that the 200, 900 mem.
bers OF the Union are deeply interested In.
For years they have seen the necessity ofsuch
measure being adopted. Ignorance brings
along with II degradation," said the lady
"and whenever we see degradation and It's
consequent miseries we search for It's cause
ana try to apply to them a remedy. We are
aware therefore, that the defenses OF nation
are not altogether by Its army aud navy, but
N the character of Its citizenship, and
at gence eharae'er s m Is dependent upon the ineli-
eminent under which We live is dependent on
the suirages of It's inhabitants, and when we
see that one voter In FIVE cannot read, and one
voter in six cannot write we see q great over.
shadowing danger That such voters should
be managed by unprincipled demagogues, and
their ballots cast for the saloon and Its kindred
degradations, Is inevitable. Therefore the w.
CT, u, in harmony and spirit at Its late an
pual convention In Minneapolis, MINI. voted
unanimously an Endorsement of what Is known
as the Blair school bill, and pledged itself to
the bill."
"The numerous petitions being sent to Con-
gross are, no doubt, the results Of the unions
".Yes. From one point to another women ore
going around with petitions asking for the
pnssoge OF this bill. The proper education OF
the youth ofthe country to. become good citi-
zensis the potve actuating every one engaged
In the work oil getting up these petitions. All
the arglimt nts that have been brought against
the bill are being weighed in the balance OF
public opinion. The people are beginning to
see the wisdom OF the passage of the bill. They
say that the national government has been
giving land to the states for school purposes,
and no one objected They cannot sec why II
is constitutional to give land at Sl.25 au acre
for school purposes and unconstitutional to
give that sl.25 In money for the same purpose.
not reflect very credltably upon the
integrity of the people. If men in positions
Of trust cannot be depended upon to honestly
dlshLrse public funds for the public good, then
think republican form of government can.
not long exist. You see, then. that my depart.
ment takes q national scope, and there is
plenty of work attached to It, The introduc-
tion Of text books on temperance and ply
siology, into the schools is a work of the
TO you fight your battles alone?'
mo. The National. Teachers Association
and the American Institute OF Instruction have
united with us 10 peiitioning Congress for the
passage Of the Blair bill. An advisory board
who are Likewise coworkers in this effort.
Edward Everett Hale, VIM. E. Dodge, and
other distinguished men are members OF this
You said that petitions were being sent to
Congress from all sections Of the country; do
you include thesouthg'
'1he south has largely contributed petitions.
The women OF that section are very anxious to
have the bill passed. They arc working ac-
lively at their homes and discussing Il with
great feeling They are also ready with argu-
ments to answer any objections to II. There is
the heartlest sympathy between the north and
south In driving out intemperance. and In this
way the old chasm' has been bridged over,
and to-day the w. G. T. u. has been the means
OF creating considerable enthusiasm among
the women in behalf of education. will also
add that the women of the states where no
federal aid is needed are working for the pas.
sage Of the bill through philanthrophic mo.
tives. Hmillions Of money can be taken from
the treasury, and used for the Improvements
OF rivers and harbors. why cannot millions be
used for the education OF the masses? 1t seems
wiser to us TO eSpend the surplus in the treas
ury for education than In the building OF coast
defenses against an enemy who may never
come. The W. G. 7. U. are determined to
help the youth Of the country In securing edu-
cation, and the members will not rest con.
tented until the same is accomplished"